Urban Growth and Land Degradation in Developing Cities: Change and Challenges in Kano Nigeria (Kings Soas Studies in Development Geography)

The peri-urban interface in poor countries is frequently an area of great dynamism and a focus of competition for basic resources. In Nigeria, peri-urban livelihood strategies have become an increasingly important survival mechanism in the context of rapid urban growth. This book uses an innovative combination of methodologies from both the natural and social sciences to examine recent developments in and around the city of Kano in northern Nigeria, and in doing so, provides insights into the sustainability of these livelihood strategies. Identifying some of the most significant forces that are currently shaping the process of peri-urban change, it argues that, despite the adoption of creative and ingenious strategies by many farmers, urban growth is having a considerable effect on the livelihood resilience of individuals, households and communities. The findings presented in this book have much wider relevance and are transferable to other burgeoning Third World cities where increased pressures on urban hinterlands have intensified contests amongst various actors, made access to resources much more difficult and made traditional smallholder mechanisms of adaptation and resilience increasingly challenging. The Peri-urban Interface In Poor Countries Is Frequently An Area Of Great Dynamism And A Focus Of Competition For Basic Resources. In Nigeria, Peri-urban Livelihood Strategies Have Become An Increasingly Important Survival Mechanism In The Context Of Rapid Urban Growth. This Book Uses An Innovative Combination Of Methodologies From Both The Natural And Social Sciences To Examine Recent Developments In And Around The City Of Kano In Northern Nigeria, And In Doing So, Provides Insights Into The Sustainability Of These Livelihood Strategies. Identifying Some Of The Most Significant Forces That Are Currently Shaping The Process Of Peri-urban Change, It Argues That, Despite The Adoption Of Creative And Ingenious Strategies By Many Farmers, Urban Growth Is Having A Considerable Effect On The Livelihood Resilience Of Individuals, Households And Communities.--book Jacket. Introduction -- Sustainability, Land Degradation And Peri-urban Expansion -- Historical Background To Farming In The Kano Close-settled Zone -- The Area Of Study : The Kano Close-settled Zone -- Land, Soil And Sustainable Livelihoods -- Urban Pressure And Woodland Degradation : Perceptions Of Tree Cover Change In The Kano Close-settled Zone -- Water Quality, Urban Waste And Sustainability -- Sustainability Challenged? : Seeing Beyond Kano's Political-ecological Footprint. Roy Maconachie. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [169]-192) And Index. Contents......Page 6 List of Figures......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 10 List of Plates......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 List of Abbreviations......Page 18 Glossary of Hausa Words......Page 20 1 Introduction......Page 22 2 Sustainability, Land Degradation and Peri-Urban Expansion......Page 44 3 Historical Background to Farming in the Kano Close-Settled Zone......Page 60 4 The Area of Study: The Kano Close-Settled Zone......Page 76 5 Land, Soil and Sustainable Livelihoods......Page 94 6 Urban Pressure and Woodland Degradation: Perceptions of Tree Cover Change in the Kano Close-Settled Zone......Page 132 7 Water Quality, Urban Waste and Sustainability......Page 156 8 Sustainability Challenged? Seeing beyond Kano’s ‘Political-Ecological Footprint’......Page 178 Bibliography......Page 190 M......Page 214 W......Page 215